Emergency exit means



Sept. 25, 1962 c. BOURDUNIS 3,055,452

' EMERGENCY EXIT MEANS Filed. Feb. 15, 1961 2 shee s-sheet 1 F ',1 l9 l8 Cozwiazz Zine Cffiourduzz l A TTOR/VEY Sept. 25, 1962 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 FIG. 2

C. C. BOURDUNIS EMERGENCY EXIT MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 m E a t 2 r a a l/VVE/VTOR Cozzsfan Z'z'ne afiozzrdanw A Tram/Er 3,955,452 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,452 EMERGENCY EXIT MEANS Constantine C. Bcurdunis, 4832 N. Talman, Chicago, Ill. Filed Feb. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 39,767 9 Claims. (Cl. 182-95) This invention relates to emergency exit means and more particularly to a foldable or collapsible ladder structure which is convenient to use and instantaneously available to elfect emergency exits through windows or the like of rooms of a building located above the ground floor.

Many lives are lost annually through neglect to provide adequate means by which a person, or persons, might escape from a second or third story window of a building in case of fire. This neglect is not only due to the expense of such equipment but also results from a lack of convenience in storing such equipment especially if it is desired to provide each upper story room with an emergency exit means. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a simple, sturdy, and inexpensive foldable or collapsible ladder structure which is readily mounted on the interior wall surface of a room adjacent a window and may be quickly and dependably used by a person, or persons, trapped in the room, as in the event of fire, with the normal means of exit blocked, to escape from the room, and which, when not in use, While it is in storage, occupies a very small volume of space within the room.

A further object is to provide an all-metallic, fireresistant emergency exit means for a room which is convenient to store and which is readily and quickly available to make rapid and safe emergency exits from the room.

Still another object is the provision of adjustable connection means between the ladder supporting frame and the stationary mounting structure of an emergency exit means whereby the emergency exit means is adaptable for use with buildings having various wall thicknesses.

A still further object is the provision of an adjustable mounting structure of an emergency exit means for securing the emergency exit means to the interior surface of the Wall of the buildings whereby the emergency exit means may be readily installed in any room regardless of the vertical distance between the floor of the room and the Window sill.

Another object is the provision of novel means for neatly storing the folda-ble ladder in the room when not in use and for permitting the ladder to be quickly used in an emergency to efiect an escape from the room.

Still another object is to provide a sturdily constructed emergency exit means which is inexpensive to manufiacture.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention, together with the many purposes and uses thereof, will become readily apparent from the reading of the ensuing description in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an emergency exit means incorporating the invention, the various components of the emergency exit means are illustrated in the positions occupied thereby when the foldable ladder is in its stored condition;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the emergency exit means when it is in condition to permit an escape from the room;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the foldable ladder taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in section, of a portion of the ladder;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along line 6--6 of FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like elements throughout the various views, the structure 10 for mounting the emergency exit means shown in FIGURE 1 on the in terior surface 11 of a building wall 12 includes an upper bar 13 and a lower bar 14 in vertical alignment therewith. The upper bar 13 is fastened to the windown trim 15 or other Wall structure directly below the sill 16 of a Window 17 by means of a plurality of screws 18 or the like extending through a plurality of apertures formed The mid sections 22, 23, respectively, of upper and lower bars 13, 14 are formed to provide inwardly extending U-sha-ped projections. The flat oifset portions 24, 25 of the projecting sections 22, 23, respectively, serve as mounting surfaces and are each provided With a pair of vertically spaced bolt-receiving recesses. One end of a vertical elongated member 26 is adapted to be rigidly secured to the flat oifset portion 24 of the upper bar 13 by means of a pair of bolts 27. The lowermost end section of the member 26 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced, vertically aligned apertures 28 therethrough. The mounting structure 10 also includes a vertically extending bottom member 29 having its uppermost half 34) adapted to overlap the lowermost end section of the member 26 and provided with a pair of vertically spaced apertures which are registerable with any two adjacent apertures 28 of the lowermost end section of the member 26. The shank portions of a pair of securing bolt and lock nut means 31 are adapted to extend through any two adjacent apertures 28 of the member 26 and into the registering apertures formed in uppermost half 30 of the bottom member 29 to rigidly connect the elongated member 26 to the bottom member 29. In this manner the effective length of the connected vertical members 26, 29 may be varied. The lowermost half 32 of the bottom member 29 is horizontally oifset approximately the thickness of the member 26 and is provided with a plurality of equally spaced, vertically aligned apertures 33 therethrough. The flat ofiset portion 25 of the lower bar 14 lies substantially in the same vertical plane containing the offset portion 24 of the upper bar 13, and, as stated hereinbefore is provided with a pair of vertically spaced recesses. Because the lowermost half 32 of the bottom member 29 is horizontally offset, as stated hereinbefore, the lowermost half 32 is adapted to abut the flat offset portion 25 of the bottom bar 14 and by adjusting the lower bar 14 vertically with respect to the bottom member '29, the two recesses are registerable with any two adjacent apertures 33 of the lowermost half 32. Bolt and lock nut means 64 are employed to rigidly fasten the lower bar 14 to the bottom member 29. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the vertical distance between the upper bar 13 and the lower bar may be readily adjusted by varying the effective length of the members 26, 29 extending vertically between the upper and lower bars 13 and 14 and/ or by varying the vertical position of the lower bar 14 along the lowermost half 32 of the bottom member 29. Hence, the emergency exit device may be readily utilized in a variety of rooms wherein the window sill 16 is spaced above the floor at different levels. In other words, the mounting structure may be readily adjusted to fit beneath the window sill 16 regardless of the height of the window sill 16 above the floor 35. Furthermore, because the mid sections 22, 23 of the upper and lower bars 13, 14 respectively, are horizontally offset inwardly away from the interior surface 11 of the wall 12, it is not necessary to remove, damage or modify the quarter round strip 36 generally concealing the joint between the edge of the floor and the baseboard 21 and/or the inwardly projecting decorative trim piece 37 oftentimes found secured to the upper edge of the baseboard 21 in many buildings.

The ladder supporting frame, designated generally by numeral 38, includes a U-shaped member 39. The free end portion 40 of each of the transversely spaced and parallel legs 41 of the member 39 is provided with a pair of apertures each of which is in transverse alignment with a respective aperture formed through the leg portion transversely spaced therefrom. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 7, the bight section 42 of the U-shaped member 39 is formed to provide a pair of elongated, transversely spaced ribs 43 which perform the dual function of rigidifying the ladder supporting frame 38 and of serving as hand holds to facilitate descending of the ladder. Fastened to each leg 41, by means of a pair of bolt and lock nut means 44, is a generally triangularly-shaped support plate 45. Each of the support plates 45 has a plurality of equally longitudinally spaced apertures 46 formed therethrough along one edge thereof. The longitudinal spacing between the apertures formed in the free end portions 40 of the legs -41 is related to the longitudinal spacing between the apertures 46 in such a manner that when one leg aperture is in registration with an aperture 46 of the support plate 45 the other leg aperture is in registration with the fourth aperture spaced from the first mentioned aperture 46. Thus, the support plates 45 are longitudinally adjustable along the legs 41 of the U-shaped member 39. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the apex 47 of each support plate 45 opposite the edge having the apertures 46 formed therein is adapted to rest on the window ledge 48 when the ladder supporting frame 38 is in position for effecting an emergency escape from the room. The support plates 45 are of suflicient size that when the ladder supporting frame 38 is positioned, as shown in FIGURE 3, with the apexes 47 thereof resting upon the window ledge 48, the U-shaped member 39 is vertically spaced above the window sill 1'6 and the window ledge 48.

The ladder supporting frame 38 is operatively connected to the mounting structure by means of two pairs of links 49, 50. One end of each of the links 49 is pivotally connected to a respective leg 51 of a U-shaped bracket 52 by means of a rivet 55 or the like. The bight section of the bracket 52 is arranged back-to-back with the flat offset portion 24 of the upper bar 13 and the same bolt and lock nut means 27 employed to secure the vertical member 26 to the upper bar 13 are used to secure the bracket 52 to the upper bar 13, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The end of each link 49 opposite the end connected to the bracket 52 is pivotally connected to a respective flat tab 54 formed on one end of each of the links by means of a double headed rivet 55 or other pivot pin means. The links 50 extend convergingly from the flat tabs 54 and the end of each link 50 opposite the tab 54 is formed with a tab 56 which is spaced relatively close and parallel to the tab 56 of the other link 50. One leg 57 of an L-shaped bracket 58 is securely fastened to the bight section 42 of the U-shaped member 39 intermediate the ribs 43. The other leg 59 of the bracket 58 extends perpendicularly from the bight section 42 and the free end thereof extends between the flat tabs 56. A pivot pin 60, which is preferably in the form of a double headed rivet as illustrated, ex-

tends through the leg 57 and the tabs 56 and is employed to pivotally connect the links 50 to the bracket 58. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that by offsetting the flat tabs 54 and 56 of links 50 as pointed out hereinbefore the links 49 and 50 are capable of freely pivoting with respect to each other and the brackets 52 and '58 without interference by the enlarged end heads of the rivets 53, 55 and 60.

The foldable or collapsible ladder construction designated generally by numeral 61, includes a plurality of rod-like members 62 which serve as the ladder rungs. Each rod-like member 62 has an enlarged diameter, integrally formed collar 63 adjacent each end thereof.

A short section 64 extends axially outwardly from each collar 63 and the terminal end portions 65 of the rod-like members 62 have screw threads formed thereon. The ladder sides or stiles are formed by light weight rigid strap-like members 66. The end portion of each ladder stile 66 has a substantially J-shape configuration in vertical section, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, to provide a circular closed loop or eye 67 and a reversely bent leg or tab 68 which is spot welded to the main or major intermediate section 69 of the member 66 and thus the eyes 67 are prevented from opening or unwrapping. The eye 67 of each stile member 66 is adapted to pivotally receive one of the outer end sections 64 of a respective rod-like rung member 62, as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5. It will be appreciated that each outer end section 64 is encircled by the eyes 67 of two adjacent stile members 66 except the end sections 64 of the two ladder rungs 62 at the ends of the ladder which are each encircled by only one eye 67. The ladder 61 is connected to the ladder supporting frame 38 by one of the ladder end rung members 62 which extends transversely through aligned apertures formed in the support plates 45. Each of the terminal end portions 65 of the rodlike rung members 62 is adapted to threadingly receive a lock nut 70 to secure the ladder 61 to the supporting frame 38 and to maintain the ladder stile members 66 pivotally connected to the ladder rung members 62. It will be appreciated that the axial length of each outer end section 64 is such that it will accommodate the eyes 67 of two adjacent stile members 66 without any interference between the stile members 66 as the ladder 61 is folded and unfolded and the collars 63 and lock nuts 70 associated therewith will prevent the stile members 66 from moving axially with respect to the rung members 62 any appreciable amount.

It is to be understood that there are a sufiicient number of rungs 62 and stiles 66 so that when the ladder 61 is unfolded and hanging vertically, as shown in FIGURE 3, the ladder 61 extends from the supporting frame 38 to the ground level. When the ladder 61 is not in use, it is folded to bring each pair of parallel stiles 66- into a closely spaced relation with the adjacent pair of parallel stiles 66, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. It is believed evident after viewing FIGURE 1 that the entire emergency exit means occupies a very small volume of space within the room and is relatively inconspicuous. The ladder 61 is stored within the room beneath the window 17 and ready for instant use by means of a substantially Z-shaped bracket 71. One leg 72 of the Z-shaped bracket 71 is provided with a pair of apertures which are registerable with any two adjacent apertures 28 formed in the upper vertical member 26. A bolt 73 is adapted to extend through each pair of registering apertures and a cooperable lock nut 74 is adapted to be threaded on each bolt 73 to secure the bracket 71 to the upper vertical member 26. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the vertical height of the horizontally inwardly extending intermediate section 75 Of the bracket 71 may be adjusted with respect to the floor 35. When the ladder 61 is in its folded and stored position, one half of the rung members 62 rest upon the horizontal intermediate sect-ion 75 and are prevented from being dislodged therefrom by the vertical upstanding leg 76 of the bracket 71 as well as by the support plates 45 which extend substantially horizontally, as shown in FIGURE 1, when the ladder supporting frame 38 is in its stored position and partially embrace the stored, vertically extending stile members 66 of the folded ladder 61.

The emergency exit means described hereinbefore is installed by first fastening the upper bar 13 to the window trim 15 in the center of the window opening :17. The top vertical member 26 together with the Ushaped bracket 52 are then secured to the flat offset center portion 24 of the upper bar 13 by means of attaching bolts 27. The bottom vertical member 29 is moved vertically with respect to the top vertical member 26 until the lower end thereof is in the vicinity of the baseboard 21 and the two apertures of the uppermost half 30 of the bottom vertical member 29 are in registration with a pair of apertures 28 of the top vertical member 26. Thereafter the bolts 31 are inserted through the registering apertures and lock nuts are threaded on the bolts to rigidly connect the top and bottom vertical members 26, 29. The lower onizontal bar 14 is then placed over the lower end of the bottom vertical member 29 and is moved vertically with respect thereto until the apertures formed in the offset portion are in registration with two of the apertures 33 and the end portions 26 of the lower bar 14 abut the baseboard 21. Bolt and nut means 34 are then employed to rigidly fasten the bottom vertical member 29 to the lower horizontal bar 14 and thereafter the lower horizontal bar 14 is fastened to the baseboard 21 in the manner pointed out hereinbefore. The height or the horizontal intermediate section 75 is then adjusted so that the lowermost rung member 62 of the ladder 61 when in its folded condition, as shown in FIGURE 1, are spaced above the floor 35.

Once the mounting structure 10 is seen-rely fixed, the ladder supporting frame 38 is swung outwardly through the window opening 177 With the links 49, 50 unfolded and engaging the innermost edge of the sill 16, as shown in FIGURE 3, the support plates 45 are adjusted with respect to the legs 41 of the U-shaped member 39, until the apexes 47 thereof rest firmly upon the uppermost surface of the window ledge 48 with the ends of the plates 45 having the first ladder rung member 62 extending therethrough spaced outwardly from the window ledge 48. The plates 45 then are rigidly secured to the Usha-ped member =39, in the manner pointed out hereinbefore.

In order to use the emergency escape means, assuming that the emergency escape means has been properly in.

stalled in the manner set forth above and the ladder 61 is in its folded, stored position, the window 17 is opened and the ladder 61 is removed from the bracket 71 and allowed to unfold by its own weight along the exterior wall surface of the building. The ladder supporting frame 38 is then swung through the window opening causing the links 49, 50 to move from a vertically disposed, folded position shown in FIGURE 1 to an extended, unfolded position wherein they engage the inner most edge of the window sill, as shown in FIGURE 3, to limit outward movement of the supporting frame 33 and to correctly position the apexes 47 of the support plates 45 so that they rest firmly upon the uppermost surface of the window prevented from doing so by having the ladder 61 too close to the wall 12.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that with the improved emergency exit means described hereinbe- 6 fore should a person or persons be trapped in a room as in the event of a fire with the normal means of exit blocked such a person could easily escape from the room by letting himself down the ladder. Furthermore, by constructing the ladder 61 and ladder support frame 38 of relatively light weight firesresi stant material even a child may use the emergency exit means and even though the emergency exit means is constructed in a light weight manner it is capable of supporting a tremendous amount of weight. Furthermore, manufacturing costs are also reduced considerably since an emergency exit means of a single size may be adjusted or adapted to various types of buildings regardless of the height of the window sill above the floor and the thickness or depth of the exterior wall.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration and description herein is that preferred for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner, due regard being had toexisting factors of economy, simplicity of design and construction, and the improvements sought to be effected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the particular structure and functional aspects emphasized herein are not intended to exclude, but rather to suggest, such other adaptations and modifications of the invention as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room having a window opening in a wall thereof, the lower portion of said window opening being defined by a ledge on the exterior surface of the wall and a window sill on the interior surface of the wall, comprising a ladder supporting frame including a U-shaped member having a pair of spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending legs and a transversely extending bight section, a pair of triangularly shaped support plates, each of said plates having a longitudinal edge and an edge portion spaced from said longitudinal edge defining an apex of said plate, and adjustable means for securing said longitudinal edges of said support plates to end portions of said legs at any one of a plurality of positions along said legs for selectively varying the longitudinal spacing between said apexes and said bight section, said ladder supporting frame being adapted to be moved between a normal inside stored position within the room beneath the window opening and an outside position wherein said apexes are adapted to rest upon the window ledge and an end portion of the longitudinal edge of each of said support plates overhangs the window ledge; a foldable metallic ladder having one end connected to the end portions of said plates adapted to overhang the ledge, said ladder being arranged in folded condition within the room when not in use and extending substantially parallel and spaced from the exterior surface of the wall when being used; and means operatively interconnecting said supporting frame and a part fixed to the room, saidmeans permitting said supporting frame to be moved between said stored and outside positions, said means being engageable with said window sill to establish said outside position said supporting frame by limiting the extent of horizontal outward movement permitted by said end portions of said support plates with respect to said window sill.

2.'Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means operatively interconnecting said supporting frame and a fixed part of the room includes a pair of pivotally connected link means, an end of one of said link means being pivotally connected to said supporting frame and an end of the other of said link means being pivotally connected to the fixed part'of the room.

3. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means of operatively interconnecting said supporting frame and a fixed part of the room includes an L-shaped bracket having one leg thereof rigidly secured to a mid portion of said bight section of said Ushaped member and the other leg extending longitudinally and perpendicularly therefrom in an opposite direction from said Ushaped member legs, and a pair of pivotally connected link means, an end of one of said link means being pivotally connected to the free end of said longitudinally extending leg of said L-shaped bracket and an end of the other of said link means being pivotally connected to the fixed part of the room.

4. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room having a window opening in a wall thereof, the lower portion of said window opening being defined by a ledge on the exterior surface of the wall and a window sill on the interior surface of the wall, comprising a ladder supporting frame including a Ushaped member having a pair of spaced and parallel longitudinally extending legs and a transversely extending bight section, a pair of triangularly shaped support plates each of said plates having a longitudinal edge and an edge portion spaced from said longitudinal edge defining an apex of said plate, and adjustable means for securing said longitudinal edges of said support plates to end portions of said legs at any one of a plurality of positions along said legs for selectively varying the longitudinal spacing between said apexes and said bight section, said ladder supporting frame being adapted to be moved between a normal inside stored position within the room beneath the window Opening and an outside position wherein said apexes are adapted to rest upon the window ledge and an end portion of the longitudinal edge of each of said support plates overhangs the window ledge; a foldable metallic ladder having one end connected to the end portions of said plates adapted to overhang the ledge, said ladder being arranged in folded condition within the room when not in use and extending substantially parallel and spaced from the exterior surface of the wall when being used; a mounting structure rigidly fastened to a fixed part of the room beneath the window sill including a transversely extending bar having a mid portion thereof olfset horizontally, inwardly to provide a mounting surface spaced from the interior wall surface of the room; and means operatively interconnecting said bight section of said Ushaped member and said mounting surface, said means permitting said supporting frame to be moved between said stored position and said outside position including an L-shaped bracket having one leg thereof rigidly secured to a mid portion of said bight section of said Ushaped member and the other leg extending longitudinally and perpendicularly therefrom in an opposite direction from said Ushaped legs, a U- shaped bracket having the bight portion thereof secured to said mounting surface with the legs thereof extending horizontally inwardly, and a pair of pivotally connected link means, an end of one of said link means being pivotally connected to the free end of said longitudinally extending leg of said L-shaped bracket and an end of the other of said link means being pivotally connected to the legs of said Ushaped bracket.

5. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room having a Window opening in a wall thereof, the lower portion of said window opening being defined by a ledge on the exterior surface of the Wall and a window sill on the interior surface of the wall, comprising a ladder supporting frame including a Ushaped member having a pair of spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending legs and a transversely extending bight section, a pair of triangularly shaped support plates, each of said plates having a longitudinal edge and an edge portion spaced from said longitudinal edge defining an apex of said plate, and adjustable means for securing said longitudinal edges of said support plates to end portions of said legs at any one of a plurality of positions along said legs for selectively varying the longitudinal spacing between said apexes and said bight section, said ladder supporting frame being adapted to be moved between a normal inside stored position within the room beneath the window opening and an outside position wherein said apexes are adapted to rest upon the window ledge and an end portion of the longitudinal edge of each of said support plates overhangs the window ledge; a foldable metallic ladder having one end connected to the end portions of said plates adapted to overhang the ledge, said ladder being arranged in folded condition within the room when not in use and extending substantially parallel and spaced from the exterior surface of the wall when being used; a mounting structure rigidly fastened to a fixed part of the room beneath the window sill including a first transversely extending, horizontal bar adapted to be rigidly fastened to the interior surface of the wall having a mid portion thereof offset horizontally, inwardly to provide a mounting surface spaced from the interior wall surface of the room, an upper elongated vertical member having its uppermost end rigidly fastened to said mounting surface, a second transversely extending, horizontal bar vertically spaced below said first bar adapted to be rigidly fastened to the interior surface of the wall having a mid portion thereof offset horizontally, inwardly to provide a second mounting surface lying in substantially in the same vertical plane as the mounting surface of said first bar, a lower elongated vertical member having its uppermost portion overlapping the lowermost portion of said upper vertical members, second adjustable means for rigidly connecting said mounting surface of said lower bar to said lower vertical member at a plurality of positions along the length of said lower vertical member, and third adjustable means for rigidly connecting said overlapping portions of said upper and lower vertical members at a plurality of positions along the vertical axes of said vertical members whereby the vertical spacing between said upper and lower bars may be selectively varied; and means operatively interconnecting said supporting frame and said upper bar, said means permitting said supporting frame to be moved between said stored and outside positions, said means being engageable with said Window sill to establish said outside position of said supporting frame by limiting the extent of horizontal outward movement permitted by said end portions of said support plates with respect to said window sill.

6. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room substantially as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means operatively interconnecting said supporting frame and upper bar includes an L-shaped bracket having one leg thereof rigidly secured to a mid portion of said bight section of said Ushaped member and the other leg extending longitudinally and perpendicularly therefrom in an opposite direction from said Ushaped member legs, a Ushaped bracket having the bight portion thereof secured to said mounting surface of said upper bar with the legs thereof extending horizontally inwardly, and a pair of pivotally connected link means, an end of one of said link means being pivotally connected to the free end of said longitudinally extending leg of said L-shaped bracket and an end of the other of said link means being pivotally connected to the legs of said Ushaped bracket.

7. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room having a window opening in a wall thereof, the lower portion of the window opening being defined by a window sill on the interior surface of the wall, comprising a ladder supporting frame adapted to be moved between a normal inside position and an outside position wherein an end portion thereof is horizontally spaced outwardly from the window sill; a foldable metallic ladder having one end connected to said end portion of said supporting frame, said ladder being arranged in a folded condition within the room when not in use and extending substantially parallel and spaced from the exterior surface of the wall when being used; mounting structure for said ladder supporting frame including an upper horizontally disposed bar secured to the interior surface of the wall of the room below the window sill and having an offset mid portion formed to provide a mounting surface spaced horizontally inwardly from the interior surface of the wall, an upper elongated vertical member having its uppermost end rigidly fastened to said mounting surface, a lower horizontally disposed bar adapted to be rigidly fastened to the interior surface of the wall, said lower bar having a central mounting surface horizontally spaced inwardly from the interior surface of the wall and lying substantially in the same vertical plane as the mounting surface of said upper bar, a lower elongated vertical memher having an end section oifset and overlapping the lowermost end section of said upper vertical member, adjustable means for rigidly connecting said mounting surface of said lower bar to said lower vertical member at a plurality of positions along the length of said lower vertical bar, and adjustable means for rigidly connecting said overlapping end sections of said upper and lower vertical members at a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axes of said vertical members whereby the vertical spacing between said upper and lower bars may be selectively varied; and means operatively interconnecting said mounting surface of said upper bar and said supporting frame, said means permitting said supporting frame to be moved between said inside and outside positions.

8. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room substantially as set forth in claim 8, wherein said ladder supporting frame include a U-shaped member having the legs thereof extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the bight section thereof when the ladder supporting frame is in its outside position, said bight section having a pair of spaced hand grip portions integrally formed thereon, said ladder supporting frame further including a pair of triangularly shaped plates, each of said plates having a longitudinal edge and an edge portion defining an apex, and adjustable means for securing said longitudinal edges of said support plates to end portions of said legs at any one of a plurality of positions along said legs for selectively varying the longitudinal spacing between said apexes and said bight section, said plates lying in substantially vertical parallel planes with the apexes thereof horizontally spaced inwardly from the interior surface of the wall when the ladder supporting frame is in its inside position to partially embrace said ladder when arranged in folded condition Within the room.

9. Means for effecting an emergency exit from a room substantially as set forth in claim 9, wherein said adjustable means for securing said longitudinal edges of said supporting plates to said legs of said U-shaped member includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed through each of said legs, each aperture of one leg being in transverse alignment with an aperture of the other leg, the longitudinal edge of each of said plates having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, any two apertures of each of said apertures of a respective leg, and securing bolt and nut means extending through the registering apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,900 Wilson June 19, 1883 308,179 Linnenbrink Nov. 18, 1884 437,174 Lalumi Sept. 30, 1890 449,859 McBeth Apr. 7, 1891 731,293 Ehrmanntraut June 16, 1903 755,666 Horton Mar. 29, 1904 1,177,557 White Mar. 28, 1916 1,389,096 Chappell Aug. 30, 1921 2,616,608 Bellamy Nov. 4, 1952 2,722,359 Craft Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,335 Great Britain June 24, 1884 

